The document summarizes the evolution of social work in India from ancient times to the present. It discusses how social work originated from humanitarian ideals of equality, worth and dignity. It describes various social welfare activities undertaken during ancient and medieval India as well as during the British period, which largely focused on relief for the poor. It then outlines the development of professional social work education starting from the establishment of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 1936. Currently, there are over 500 institutions providing social work education across India. However, issues remain such as influence of foreign models, lack of focus on rural areas, and lack of a regulatory council for social work.

1. Institute Of Social Sciences
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Agra
Submitted By:-
Submitted To:-
Shikha Chaudhary Dr.
R.K. Bharti
MSW I Semester
EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL
WORK IN INDIA

2. BACKGROUND –
 Social work is a discipline that grew out of
humanitarian and democratic ideals and its
values are based on equality, worth and dignity of
all the people in the society.
 Social work profession strives to alleviate poverty
and uplift the vulnerable and oppressed people in
the society in order to achieve the social inclusion
and development.
 It seeks to address and resolve social issues
and economic status of the poor and the sick.

3. Social work in Ancient and
Medieval India-
 Initiating and taking part in the activities for the
welfare and common good of all.
 Construction work for public good by the joint
efforts of the villagers.
 Care and protection for boys, girls, old and
diseased person if they had no guardians or
protectors.
 Collective charity
 Help the progress of education.
 Taught the people free of cost.
 Vidyadana was pronounced to be best of all gifts.
 Establishment of rest houses and dharamshalas

4. Social work during British
period
 Charter act of 1813 made annual provision for the
encouragement of education.
 Late 19th and early 20th century social work was
largely ameliorative -
relief to the poor.
institutions for widows and orphans.
care for blind , deaf and dumb.
establishment of charitable
dispensaries.
 Work for prevention of juvenile delinquency
undertaken by the society for the protection of
children in western india, stimulated by sir
Rustom and Lady Masani.

5. Current Status-
Now social work is an organized attempt at helping
in the rehabilitation of the individual needing
assistance for readjustment and his integration
into society.
Humility and Humanity are the keynote of all social
work , voluntary or professional.

6. History of social work education in
India—
 Professional education for social work in India began
in 1936 when Tata Institute Of Social Sciences was
set up in Bombay.
 Between 1936-1947, this was the only institute
imparting professional Education in social work.
 In 1946, the second institution was established in
Lucknow.
 In 1950, another institute started under the university
of Baroda.
 14 more institutions were started in 1971-80.
 By the end of 1980, 30 institutions were providing
social work education & training.
 Number has gone to 50 or more in the mid 90s and
now more than 500 institutions of social work
education have been established in India.

7. During the cold weather season of 1936-37, the Sir Dorabji
Tata Graduate school of social work sponsored a series of
lectures on the theme……
‘Some social services of the government of
Bombay’..
 These social services were-
1. Public health programme.
2. Medical department.
3. Work of the labour office.
4. Factory law and its administration.
5. Work men’s compensation.
6. Work of the labour officer.
7. Industrial housing.

8. MODERN METHODS IN SOCIAL
WORK
 Dual orientation on the part of the practitioner, an
orientation , on the one hand , to practical human
psychology, and
on the other hand, to the active cultural forces
of the society in which he works.
 Relief to distress or helping the handicapped
through individual or group effort.
 Charity , sympathy , philanthropy.

9. Current issues of social work
education in India
 Social work in India is not practiced in its true
sense because of-
I. American influence
II. Malnutrition
III. Unemployment
IV. Castism
V. Differences in social values and legal values.

10. Some loopholes in social work
education
 There is no regulatory council of social work.
 Social work schools are urban centric.
 Option of online and distance education
degrading the standards of social work education.
 Educators and learners of social work are heavily
dependent upon American books, models and
case studies.
 Social work in India is not practised in its true
sense.

11. References
1. https://www.hrpub.org
2. https://www.anilpinto.blogspot.com
3. https://www.shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
4. History and philosophy of social work in India
A souvenir volume of the silver jubilee celebrations
of the TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Edited by
professor A.R wadia
Allied publishers Pvt. Ltd,1961